Related Articles

Mr Joannides, who represents Grange Ward, did not compose the words, but shared them as "blokeish banter," he said later.

Police and his local party investigated and decided to take no action, but the Conservative group on Enfield Council withdrew the whip from him. Central Office also took a tough view over his behaviour.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Chris Joannides is not endorsed as a candidate in the forthcoming local government elections.

"No appeal is permitted under party rules. Furthermore, Mr Joannides is expelled from the party for a period of 12 months.

"He may appeal against this decision and it is our understanding that he intends to do so."

Mr Joannides became Britain's youngest Greek-cypriot councillor when he was elected to the council in 2006.

Mr Joannides, who denied last year he was "Islamophobic", has reacted angrily to his party's decision, saying: “The picture was shared on my Facebook profile by a friend and I deleted it straight away, but someone took a photo of it before I could take it down.

"I was investigated by the local association and cleared. I was investigated by police and cleared.

"I was reselected to stand in May by the local branch. Then I got an email from Conservative Central Office at the 11th hour telling me they were suspending my membership for 12 months, effectively barring me from standing.